1. Reintroduction of orchids into the wild
This project plays an essential part of APROVACA’s orchid conservation strategy in El Valle. A widespread practice of wild orchid poaching among local people has dramatically reduced native orchid populations in this Panamanian resort town and the surrounding mountains. It is therefore imperative to reintroduce these orchids into the wild so that this place will be a paradise for them again. In close collaboration with the Institute of Agricultural Investigation of Panama (Instituto de Investigación Agropecuaria de Panamá, IDIAP), APROVACA reproduces eight native orchid species in imminent danger in its nursery and brings them back to their original habitat every year. Once the reintroduction process is completed, our rangers will try to prevent the exploitation of the precious flowers from occurring again.
Know more about APROVACA’s orchid reintroduction project.
2. Orchid sponsorship
This unique project commenced with our hope to realize the dream of a defunct former Japanese volunteer, Fuzuki Miura. We have a greenhouse dedicated exclusively to the National Flower of Panama, Espiritu Santo (meaning Holy Ghost in Spanish), also known commonly as the white dove orchid for its dove-like column – the most striking characteristic of the flower. The sad reality, however, is that this beautiful orchid is also faced with extinction because of widespread commercial gathering. APROVACA now counts more than 100 sponsors from all over the world who help us to take care of these precious orchids by making the annual contribution of $20 to us. Is it perhaps your turn to become the next orchid sponsor?
Know more about APROVACA’s Orchid sponsorship project.
3. Garden expansion
In recognition of APROVACA’s contributions to conserving the invaluable flora of the country, the government of Panama offered to us a nine hundred square-meter section of land adjacent to our original premise. With the main goal of raising awareness of the public about the importance of orchid conservation, we designed a new orchid conservation park on this section of land to which we have added orchids endemic to Panama, a new orchid greenhouse, an environmental education center, an organic vegetable garden as well as various kinds of bromeliads. The project was made possible by generous contributions from the San Diego Country Orchid Society, the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme of the United Nations Development Programme (the GEF SGP), the Embassy of Japan in Panama as well as many of APROVACA's former international volunteers. Construction of the whole complex is still underway but scheduled to be completed by the end of 2011.
Know more about some of the features of APROVACA’s new orchid conservation park.
